Heart Care

Heart Attack Risk and Blood Types

Why does one person get heart disease and another one not? A healthy lifestyle - not smoking and eating a low-fat diet - decreases your risk. And so may your blood type.

People with type O blood appear to be less likely to have a heart attack, according to a recent study in the journal Lancet.

Researchers compared about 13,000 people of European ancestry with coronary artery disease (CAD) with about 7,400 people of European ancestry who didn't have the condition. They were looking for certain genes that might increase the risk for CAD and for heart attack, so they also looked at people with CAD who'd had a heart attack and those with CAD who hadn't.

More than one gene

Sure enough, the researchers found a new gene, called ADAMTS7, which seemed to have a role in raising the risk for CAD.

But they also found that another gene – the one that gives people type O blood - protects against heart attacks in people with CAD.

You can have one of several possible blood types, but type O is the most common.

Practice prevention

Gregg Fonarow, M.D., a spokesman for the American Heart Association, cautions that although type O blood may offer some protection against heart attacks, that doesn't mean that your blood type alone will spare you from heart attack.

"Individuals with blood type O should be just as vigilant about preventing heart disease and stroke as those of other blood types," he says.

Preventive steps include quitting smoking; getting regular exercise; eating a nutritious low-fat diet; and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels at a healthy level. If you have diabetes, maintaining good control of your blood sugar levels is also important to help prevent heart disease.

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.

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March 2011

What's Your Blood Type?

All blood contains the same basic elements - red blood cells, white blood cells, and plasma. But not all blood is identical.

According to the American Red Cross, you can have one of several blood types, determined by whether your red blood cells have certain antigens - substances on the surface of the cells that can cause your immune system to react. Your blood type is based on the blood types of your parents.

These are the four main blood types:

Group A. This type has only an A antigen on red cells.

Group B. This type has only a B antigen on red cells.

Group AB. This type has both A and B antigens on red cells.

Group O. This type has neither A nor B antigens on red cells.

Blood can also contain a third antigen called the Rh factor. If Rh is present, the blood is called Rh positive; if it's not there, the blood is called Rh negative.

In general, when blood transfusions are given, the blood type must be matched to the person.

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.